Aston Villa ready to offer Jack Grealish new deal with star man looking set to stay
Villa are preparing to offer Jack Grealish a new contract with their star man looking increasingly certain to stay at the club.
Grealish, whose future has been the subject of intense speculation for the whole summer, trained at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training ground on Thursday morning and club insiders are now confident he won’t be sold before the 5pm transfer deadline.
Villa’s new executive chairman Nassef Sawiris has made clear the 22-year-old is not for sale and has rebuffed an approach from Tottenham, the player’s long-time suitors.
Sources close to negotiations claim a £25million deal from the London club was never formally submitted, with the only official offer - made last month when Villa were battling a cash crisis - being a player-plus-cash offer of £3million and midfielder Josh Onomah.
Grealish, who had been keen on testing his skills in the Champions League, is understood to be disappointed but will not try and force a move away from his boyhood club.
Barring any late, unexpected twists, the England under-21 international will be offered a new deal on improved terms by Villa.
Grealish has two years to run on his current contract, signed nearly two years ago. But on £20,000-per-week he is now among the lowest paid first-team players at the club and Villa will offer a deal which better reflects his importance to the team.
One academy product who does appear likely depart Villa prior to the deadline is midfielder Gary Gardner.
The 26-year-old is closing in on a loan switch across the city to rivals Blues, though Bolton and QPR are also interested.
